The New York Times has relaunched its Android news app, with a refined layout and improved navigation. The app can also save articles for offline reading, and share them across social media and e-mail.

The most interesting feature of the update, though, is the introduction of text-to-speech functionality. It works both ways, meaning users can have articles read aloud using a voice engine, or convert their spoken comments into text.

The app is free to download, with the Top News section available for free – but all other content requires a digital subscription.

“We are steadfast in our efforts to deliver our esteemed journalism and multimedia to our readers on the platforms they use,” said Denise Warren, senior vice president and chief advertising officer at The New York Times Media Group. “That means we are constantly examining our products and looking for ways to improve their features and functionality. These updates allow readers to navigate, consume and share our wealth of content with ease, providing a seamless mobile user experience across any Android device they choose.”